New Hampshire King Tide Photo Contest to Raise Awareness ofRising Tides, October 17-19, 2016


Portsmouth, NH – The New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup (NHCAW) is excited to announce the return of the New Hampshire King Tide Photo Contest on October 17-19, 2016 and is calling all citizens to grab their cameras and help us “catch a king” for a chance to win prizes.

Portsmouth, NH – The New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup (NHCAW) is excited to announce the return of the New Hampshire King Tide Photo Contest on October 17-19, 2016 and is calling all citizens to grab their cameras and help us “catch a king” for a chance to win prizes.

King tides are especially high tides that occur naturally once or twice a year when the sun, moon, and Earth align to produce above-average tidal ranges. King tides bring unusually high water levels and can cause local tidal flooding. This year’s extra-high high tide is expected to reach approximately 11 to 12 feet along New Hampshire’s tidal shorelines during the lunch hour on October 17, 18, and 19 (a typical high tide for the region is between 8 and 10 feet). These tides will provide a preview of what we might experience daily in the future if sea level rises as projected.

Photos collected during this year’s photo contest will be used to help residents, planners, and local officials identify coastal areas vulnerable to tidal flooding, visualize projected impacts of sea-level rise, and plan for the future.
Participation is easy and everyone is encouraged to enter the contest by sharing up to three photos on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) using the hashtag #KingTideNH2016, or emailing them to [email protected]. All photos must be taken on October 17, 18, or 19 and feature the extreme high tide along New Hampshire shorelines (e.g., Atlantic Coast, Great Bay, Little Bay, tidal rivers). For complete contest rules, terms and conditions, please visit: http://bit.ly/KingTide2016.

A panel of local judges will select the Grand Prize, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place photos based on photographic quality, effectiveness at conveying tidal impact, and creativity. The judges for this year’s contest are: Jason Moon, New Hampshire Public Radio; Victoria Parmele, Strafford Regional Planning Commission; and Councilor Eric Spear, Portsmouth City Council.
In addition to the top three photos, a People’s Choice prize will be awarded to the photo that earns the most “likes” on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Winning entries will be announced on Thursday, November 3, 2016 and unveiled at 6:30pm that evening during a special screening of National Geographic’s new documentary, Before the Flood, hosted by the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership, NHCAW, Union of Concerned Scientists, and the University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute. For more information about the event, please visit http://prepestuaries.org/

An exhibit of select contest photos – donated by – will be on display at several Seacoast area locations for the remainder of 2016. Details for these displays are forthcoming.
To view and “like” photos as they are posted, follow @nhcaw on and @nhcoastaladaptation on Facebook and Instagram.

For questions, please contact Nathalie Morison with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program at [email protected], or at (603) 559-0029.

The New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup (NHCAW) assists communities in New Hampshire’s coastal watershed to prepare for the impacts of extreme weather and long term climate change by providing resources, facilitation and guidance that enhance readiness and resilience. To learn more about NHCAW, please visit:

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